Border Force customs custody suites across England and Scotland had significantly improved since their last inspection, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, and Dru Sharpling, HM Inspector of Constabulary, publishing the report of an unannounced inspection.

Our aims

Through inspecting, monitoring and advising, to promote and advance improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of policing. We will do this independently, professionally and fairly, always championing the public interest, and we will explain what we do and why.

Our role

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) independently assesses police forces and policing activity ranging from neighbourhood teams through serious crime to the fight against terrorism – in the public interest.

In preparing our reports, we ask the questions which citizens would ask, and publish the answers in accessible form, using our expertise to interpret the evidence. We provide authoritative information to allow the public to compare the performance of their force against others, and our evidence is used to drive improvements in the service to the public.

Our work

The public want the police to succeed in their mission to keep people safe and secure. It is in the public interest that the quality of policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland keeps improving.

At HMIC, we monitor and report on forces and policing activity with the aim of encouraging improvement.

By providing accessible information on the performance of forces, we allow their public, and peers, to see how they are doing. This will place pressure on those forces falling below average in aspects of policing to raise their game.

Who we inspect

HMIC inspects and monitors the 43 police forces in England and Wales, sometimes also referred to as Home Office-funded forces. This section provides information on each of these forces, including links to their recent reports, data, local information and useful links.

Other organisations

We also inspect other policing bodies and organisations, such as the Ministry of Defence Police and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.